A 5-0 away win over Greencastle has moved Culdaff off the bottom for the first time this season – here’s how the Inishowen League Premier and First Division action unfolded:
Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Greencastle FC 0 Culdaff FC 5
THIS game was marred by a serious leg injury sustained by Culdaff’s Matthew Crampsey and all in the footballing fraternity wish him a speedy recovery.
After the restart Culdaff upped the tempo and earned an excellent five nil win to move off the foot of the table for the first time this season.
Greencastle started well with a Ciaran Moore cross gathered by Darragh McLaughlin before a dangerous Pauric Gillen cross eluded all.
At the other end Brendan Mclaughlin blazed over the bar before a long range Dean O’Connor effort was gathered by JP O’Doherty.
Gillen fired wide when well placed before Sean Cavanagh’s attempted chip cleared the bar.
Culdaff replied and Michael Coyle had a shot tipped round the post before Dean O’Connor headed wide.
On 25 minutes Jamie McCormick had a free kick deflected wide and from the corner Moore headed wide.
Once again Culdaff replied and Paul McLaughlin fired over. But McLaughlin broke the deadlock on 39 minutes. With the home defence appealing for offside he collected the ball turned and drilled a superb effort low into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Before the break they increased their lead when Brendan McLaughlin combined with
brother Noel to race clear and curl a superb effort past O’Doherty.
Culdaff practically sealed the win on 57 minutes when Paul McLaughlin unmarked headed home from a corner and midway through the half Michael Coyle got on the end of a Brendan McLaughlin free to make it 4-0.
Greencastle tried to respond with Michael Barr volleying over after a good run and cross from Ronan Doherty.
The visitors added a fifth goal when O’Connor scored with a superb chip over the advancing O’Doherty.
Aileach FC 1 Buncrana Hearts 3
THIS was a crucial win for the Hearts as they had been on a poor run of late.
After an even start in difficult conditions it was the visitors who took the lead when after poor defending Kieran McDaid drove an angled effort low past Neil McElhinney from eight yards.
Aileach had a great chance to level on 27 minutes when Anthony Doherty raced clear but his effort was deflected behind by Sean Sweeney.
Aileach had the first chance of the second half as well when a Paddy Slevin cross found Doherty but his header crashed back off the bar.
They equalised on the hour mark when another cross from Slevin found Caoimhin McFeely who drove an angledeffort low past Sweeney.
Buncrana replied and when McDaid weaved his way into the area he fired into the side netting.
At the other end ThomasMcMackin’s superb pass released Darren McMonagle but he fired over.
Buncrana regained the lead on 82 minutes when McElhinney parried a Calvin Gallagher effort but former Aileach player Ryan Curran was on hand to slot home.
They sealed the points minutes later after McDaid executed a deft twenty five yards chip over McElhinney.
Moville Celtic 3 Illies Celtic 2
MOVILLE started well and on 7 minutes Joe Doherty’s attempted chip was tipped over the bar by Graham Doherty. From the corner Eamon Reddin’s effort was cleared off the line to Jack Keys who fired into the side netting.
Minutes later a similar chip from Ciaran Diver was also tipped over with Charlie Gill firing wide from the corner.
Illies first threat came on 21 minutes when Darragh McDermott pounced on a defensive error but his shot was well saved by Sean McGuinness before the keeper blocked a Paddy Doherty effort with his legs.
Moville hit a purple patch and scored three goals in a five minute spell.
They took the lead when Joe Doherty knocked the ball down for Conor Lafferty to sweep the ball home from eight yards.
A minute later Gill blasted a penalty down the middle after Doherty was impeded.
Then Doherty controlled well and when his effort deflected off a defender Gill was on hand to slot home his second of the game.
In the early exchanges of the second period Joe Doherty and Ciaran Diver were off target with efforts for the home side while a Stephen Doherty cross for the visitors eluded all before McDermott fired wide when well placed.
A good Moville move saw Doherty and Diver combine to feed Lafferty but his effort was cleared off the line by Ryan McElhinney.
Play swung to the other end with McGuinness denying both Paddy Doherty and Liam O’Connor in succession.
Illies reduced the deficit when Shane Devlin found O’Connor in space and from 25 yards he fired low to the corner.
A Dominick Doherty free was parried by McGuinness before being scrambled clear.Moville wereplaying on the break now and when Shane Canning released Diver his effort was blocked by the advancing keeper.
Illies upped the tempo and a 30-yard effort from Paddy Doherty saw McGuinness save at full
stretch before the home side were reduced to ten men after Gill was sent off for dissent.
In injury time Illies got another back when Dominic Coyle got on the end of Doherty’s cross to head low to the corner but Moville held on to claim a much needed three points.
Strand Hotel First Division
Rasheney FC 3 Carn FC 2
CARN got a dream start on three minutes when a Cathal Doherty dangerous cross was not claimed by Roger McGilloway and Paddy McGuinness slotted the loose ball home.
Minutes later Declan McGonagle fed Brandon Browne who turned well but McGilloway saved his effort.
Rasheney equalised on 14 minutes when a Damien Friel effort from the edge of the area was parried by Daniel Houghton and Paddy McGilloway slotted home from fourteen yards.
Friel then had a free kick from the edge of the area scrape the top of the crossbar before they took the lead on 17 minutes.
Charlie Doherty fed Friel on the right and his cross found McGilloway who flicked home from six yards.
Three minutes later league leaders Carn got back on terms again when a superb cross from the left by Browne found McGonagle to slot home from eight yards.
Rasheney then got back in front again on 39 minutes when McGilloway completed his hattrick from the penalty spot after a handball in the area.
Rasheney lost keeper McGilloway to injury with Friel taking over in goals and substitute Ben Lafferty in his first action got in behind the Carn defence but a superb Michael O’Donnell tackle saved the day.
On the stroke of half time a dangerous cross from McGuinness was well claimed by Friel.There was a quiet opening to the second period but on the hour mark Rasheney’s Declan McLaughlin broke away on the right but was denied by a fine save from Houghton.
McGilloway then broke from half way but as he advanced into the area he was denied by a superb Christopher Doherty tackle before Conor Burke shaved the bar with a powerful header as Rasheney began to dominate.
They suffered a blow on 82 minutes after Emyln Doherty collected a second yellow but they had the final chance of the game when Houghton’s punch fell to Lafferty who blazed over.
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